Padres topple Marlins with three solo shots
SAN DIEGO -- With the game tied, 1-1, with two outs in the bottom of the fifth Friday night, Yonder Alonso and Matt Kemp hit back-to-back home runs, sending the Padres on their way to a 3-1 win over the Marlins.
The Padres also got a strong performance from Andrew Cashner, who pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and one run, while striking out five.
The Marlins scored in the first inning with an RBI double from Justin Bour, but were silent after that. Dan Haren, whose name has been circulating in trade rumors, pitched six innings, allowing eight hits and the three home runs.
"Very frustrating," Haren said. "The Alonso pitch, I'm actually OK with. It was a split, not my best pitch. He's struggled on changeups. So I threw one, and it was a bad one. He took it deep."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
First for Wallace: Brett Wallace hit his first home run of the season, and as a Padre, when he crushed a homer to right field on a full count. The left-handed hitter, who usually pinch-hits, started at third base Friday, marking just his third start of the season. The other two were at DH.
Video: MIA@SD: Wallace drills a solo shot to tie the game
Haren hurt by homers: As the saying goes, "Solo home runs don't hurt you." But when they add up to three, it can do damage. That was the case for Haren, who allowed three solo shots, including the back-to-back homers by Alonso and Kemp. Those two shots put San Diego ahead, 3-1. For the season, Haren has now allowed 20 home runs, with 15 being solo shots. He still had his 13th quality start in his last 20.
"I think 15 of his 20 home runs have been solo shots," Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. "That's where his experience comes in. He knows how to minimize damage. You know the old saying, 'solo homers don't beat you.' But again, tonight, we couldn't push across runs when we had some opportunities."
Video: MIA@SD: Haren fans Upton to end the frame
Stranded at corners: Limited to two hits, both doubles, by Cashner through five innings, the Marlins threatened in the sixth. Down, 3-1, they had runners on the corners with two outs after Bour's single to right moved Christian Yelich to third. It set up a two-out, showdown between Cashner and Casey McGehee, who battled back from two strikes to work the count full. On the seventh pitch, Cashner's 96-mph fastball got McGehee swinging.
"You hate to see wasted opportunities," Jennings said. "We had too many of those that we didn't capitalize on."
Cashner handles pressure: After having his last start cut short due to a rainout, Cashner pitched well under pressure Friday night. The right-hander faced runners in scoring position in the fourth and sixth inning, but was able to end both those innings without allowing a run. More >
Video: MIA@SD: Cashner fans McGehee to end the threat
QUOTABLE
"What I saw from him tonight was a guy that gave up a run in the first, after a leadoff walk, and then settled down and was just on it. You know we taxed our bullpen pretty good and we were just looking for an opportunity to keep him in there." -- Padres interim manager Pat Murphy on allowing Cashner to go seven innings
Video: MIA@SD: Murphy on Cashner's outing, 3-1 victory
"I don't really have any control over it. No use worrying. It's like turbulence on a plane. Nothing you can do about it." -- Haren on being subject of trade rumors More >
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Before Alonso and Kemp hit back-to-back home runs Friday, the last time the Padres did that was on July 27, 2013, against the D-backs, when Chris Denorfia and Chase Headley achieved the feat.
Video: MIA@SD: Alonso belts a solo shot to break the tie
REPLAY REVIEW
At age 41, Ichiro Suzuki continues to make an impact with his legs. After walking to lead off the game, Ichiro stole second base. He was ruled out by umpire Dan Bellino. But after a review, the call was overturned. It was a big play, because with two outs, Ichiro scored on Bour's RBI double.
Video: MIA@SD: Ichiro safe at second after overturned call
WHAT'S NEXT
Marlins: In the third game of the four-game set on Saturday, David Phelps (4-6, 3.91) gets the start in the 8:40 p.m. ET game.
Padres: The Padres will send Ian Kennedy to the mound on Saturday. In his career against Miami, Kennedy has a 3.11 ERA, allowing 32 hits and 13 runs in 37 2/3 innings.
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